Fluid lock structure



Nov. 5, 1963 R. L. DEEG, JR

FLUID LOCK STRUCTURE Filed April 5. 1960 INVENTOR. R05ERT L. Oaee, JR.

HTTORIVEY United States Patent 3,109,446 FLUID LGCK STRUCTURE Robert L.Deeg, 51x, Rte. 3, Roekport, End. Filed Apr. 5, 1969, Ser. No. 26,099 1Claim. or. ism-seas The present invention relates to a fluid lock, andmore particularly to a new and novel locking structure whereby the flowof fluid in a conduit may be selectively and effectively inteirup-ted.

As is known, the number of automobile thefts has been widespread overthe past years, with a particular problem being that of automobile theftwhile the owner or driver of the automobile is still at the wheelthereof, since the current automobile models include no safety provisionfor effectively preventing the latter.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicant has provided a new andnovel fluid lock structure which is disposed in the fuel line feeding tothe carburetor of an automobile. In operation, and as a matter of apositive driver-controlled action, the flow of fuel in the line can beeifectively and selectively interrupted, so that, upon theft, theautomobile can be used only to the point of the amount of fuel remainingin the system between the fluid lock structure and the automobilecarburetor. Moreover, the applicants invention utilizes a key-operatedlocking mechanism to permit the fuel line to become unblocked and,hence, the automobile to become operative, only after unlocking has beeneflected.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providea new and novel fluid lock structure for selectively interrupting theflow of fluid in a conduit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelfluid lock structure which utilizes a keyoperated locking mechanism forreturning the fluid lock to a position to permit fluid flow.

A further and more general object of the present invention is to providea new and novel fluid lock structure made from a minimum number ofcomponents which combine to provide effective locking action for alltypes of fluid carrying conduits.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in vertical section, showingdetails of a typical fluid lock structure in accordance with the instantinvention, with the fluid lock being in locked position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, showing the fluidlock structure of FIG. 1 in an unlocked position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fluid lock structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, in bottom elevation, of

certain details of the structure forming the instant invention,generally taken at line 4- of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of thearrows, however, with certain other structure shown for reasons ofclarity; and,

FIG. 5 is a view of the detailed structure of P16. 4 in operativeposition, where such view is generally taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, however, with certain otherstructure also shown for reasons of clarity.

For the puiposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such 'ice furtherapplications of the principles of the invention as illustrated thereinbeing contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art towhich the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants novel fluid lock incomprises, in a typical embodiment of the inven tion, a base section 11and a top section 12;, where the latter is typically secured to theformer by a number of common screw members 14. As should be particularlyevident from FIG. 1 and HG. 2, the base section 11 has a recess 15disposed therein, which recess 15 comprises a top portion 15a, anenlarged intermediate portion 15b which forms a shoulder 15d, and abottom portion 15c having the smallest diameter of the three portions.Passageways 2t and 21 radially extend toward and connect with the topportion 15a of the recess 15, where such passageways 2i and 21 haveinternally threaded sections Zlla and 21a for receiving conventionalfittings 24 and 25. The fittings 2d and 25 connect to the fluid carryingconduit (not shown) through fittings in the system in which the instantfluid lock structure is disposed, one of which fittings 26 isrepresentatively shown in the drawing. A passageway 22 is provided todirectly connect the bottom portion 15c of the recess 15 to thepassageway 21, for reasons to be discussed herebelow.

A plunger 30 extends through an opening 12a in the top section 11.2 ofthe fluid lock and into the recess 15 in the base section ii. Theplunger 36* has channel-ways 31a disposed in a disc-like element 31adjacent the lower end thereof (see FIGS. 4 and '5) or, in another formof the invention, the channel-ways 31a may be formed directly in the endof the plunger 3i) without utilizing the element 31. In any event, thechannel-Ways 31a are adapted to receive control members 34 which aremovable therein through the operation of a lever 35 disposed at anend ofa shaft 36 which extends longitudinally through the plunger 39. Springs33 are: provided in the channel-ways Illa to urge the control members34- in an outwardly direction.

Disposed around the lever 35 is a spacer member 40 which has a cutoutportion therein to permit the rotation of the lever 35. An end member 42is disposed beneath the spacer member 4% and operatively seats the shaft36, permitting the rotation of the latter. Screw means 44 are providedto effectively unite the preceding structure. The end member 42 servesas a seat for a spring 45, while the bottom surface of the bottomportion "15c of the recess 15 serves as another seat.

The assembly is completed by the use of a gasket 50 to provide a sealbetween the top section 12 of the fluid lock 10 and the plunger 30,where the latter is operatively retained within the opening 12a in thetop section 12 by a threaded collar 5'1. Although not disclosed in thedrawing, a common lock mechanism having a key 55 is disposed at theupper portion of the plunger 38, and operatively connects to the shaft36. As further scaling is required, a gasket (not shown) is disposedaround the shaft 36 proximate the lock mechanism.

In use, and considering FIG. 2, where the lock mechaisrn is unlocked,fluid may freely pass from the system in which the fluid lock isinstalled through fittings 26 and 25, passageway 21, a chamber formed bythe top portion lSa, the intermediate portion 15b and the bottom portionof the recess 15, passageway 26, fitting 24, and into another conduit inthe system, or conversely, if desired. in order to attain the above, thespring 45 forces the plunger 3% in an upward direction, considering thedrawing, until a shoulder 30w formed on the plunger 30 engages the undersurface of the top section 12 around the periphery of opening lZatherein. In this position, the control members 34 disposed at one end ofthe plunger 30 are 'ous changes within the spirit of the invention.

- o w so positioned, because of the tight, but yet movable, fit betweenthe plunger 34 and top portion 15a of the recess 15, so that the freeends thereof do not extend beyond the outer surface of the plunger 3!(see FIG. 4).

When it is desired to utilize the fluid lock, the plunger 3% is moveddownwardly, considering the figures, whereupon the control members 34extend outwardly, through action of springs 38,-when the plunger 39 ispushed below the shoulder 15:! defined in the recess 15. The result ofthe above action is that the plunger 3i? cannot thereafter 'be movedupwardly, unless the lock mechanism is released by use of the key 55.When the plunger 3% is in the aforesaid locking position, and as shouldbe apparent from FIG. 1, communication is terminated between passageways2 1 and 20 and, hence, flow of fluid is interrupted. In respect to thelocking action, it should be understood that passageway 22 plays animportant part in releasing the fluid disposed within the recess 15 asthe plunger 30 is pushed downwardly, to thereby permit locking.

It should be understood from the preceding that the applicant hasprovided a new and novel fluid lock structure embodying a minimum numberof operative compo- ,nents whereby fluid flow in a conduit in which thelock has been positioned can be quickly and effectively interrupted, asdesired. In addition, in order to make the fluid lock structureoperative once again, i.e. permit passage of the fluid, the applicanthas included a normal key-operated lock mechanism which is utilized torelease the fluid lock to an unlocking position.

The fluid lock described hereabove is susceptible to vari- For ex ample,and importantly, although the preceding has typically disclosed the useor" the fluid lock in combination With the fuel systemofan automobile,it should be understood that the applicants invention has considerableuses aside from the illustrated example. Moreover, the usual changes ofform and proportion may be made, while still permitting the ready andeffective utilization of the invention. In addition, aside from thekey-operated lock mechanism disclosed hereabove in connection with theinvention, it should be understood that other arrangements may also beutilized as, for example, a rotation of the plunger to effect unlockingaction, or even a delayed action arrangement whereby intermittent forceagainst a modified plunger ultimately serves as a releasing meanstherefor. Thus, the above description should be considered illustrativeand not as limiting the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A fluid lock structure comprising a housing having a chambercommunicating with a line through which a fluid flows, a plunger membermovably disposed within said chamber and selectively blocking fluid flowtherethrough, a shaft extending through said plunger member, a controlarm disposed on the inner end of said shaft adjacent to the inner end ofsaid plunger member, said control arm being extendible when said plungermember is moved from a position Within said chamber permitting fluidflow to a position within said chamber blockfluid flow and said controlarm adapted to be retained at a peripheral shoulder portion of saidchamber at said fluid flow biocking position anywhere throughout a rangeof 360 degrees, said peripheral shoulder port-ion being integral withsaid chamber, spring means continuously urging said control arm intosaid retaining relationship with said peripheral shoulder portion ofsaid chamber at said fluid flow blocking position of said plungermember, means at the outer end of said plunger member locking saidplunger member at said fluid flow blocking position, said plunger memberwhen in said fluid blocking position defining a space in said chamberhaving a reduced volume from that at said position of said plungermember permitting fluid flow, spring means adapted to bias said plungermember from said fluid flow blocking position to said fluid flowposition when said control arm is unlocked, and a fluid pressure reliefpassageway communicating between said reduced space in said chamber and7 said line when said plunger member is at said fluid flow blockingposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSFOREIGN PATENTS 146,001 Great Britain July 8, 1920

